materials | ETPs Lanxess continues to expand its range of easy-flow-
Above: A radiator end tank moulded in Vydyne PA66 from Ascend Performance Materials. The company is developing higher temperature resistant grades
approach these temperatures, for every ten degrees you raise the temperature, the rate of degradation more or less doubles. So if you go from 190 to 200, unless you change your stabilisation package considerably, the molecule will degrade twice as fast. We are working on new ways to protect the molecule so we can maintain physical properties.” Gopal says some alternative heat stabilisation
systems have a disproportionate effect on initial physical properties. “We want to improve thermal ageing without compromising those physical properties. That’s a challenge.” According to Phillip Jeszke, Global Automotive Segment Leader at Ascend: “People want performance, but they don’t always want to pay for it. And across the automotive market, it’s not a homogeneous require- ment for the same application. So we look at individual cases of what performance is required. One require- ment may be to withstand high temperatures for a short time, another may be for resistance to lower tempera- tures for a long time. And they have different require- ments for the level of property retention too, 40, 50, 60, 70%. So it is important for us to map the space to understand the various targets we need to achieve. We are looking for continuous improvement, but we have to be sure to do it where it makes sense.” Ascend also has a new HFFR PA66 for electrical/
electronic components such as bobbins, said to have best in class RTI. This is Vydyne Eco 366H and 360H.
ing polyamide 6 and 66 compounds, as well as its PBTs (polybutylene terephthalate). “We are seeing a strong upturn in the level of market interest in the benefits that these materials open up compared to standard materials in terms of processing, production costs and design freedoms,” says Tim Arping, a marketing expert in the Lanxess High Performance Materials (HPM) business unit. “They are particularly suitable for
manufacturing the kind of thin-walled compo-
nents that are ideal for lightweight construction and the miniaturisation of assemblies.” The latest example is Durethan BKV 30 XF (Xtrem-
eFlow). This polyamide 6 with 30% glass fibre content is the successor to Durethan DP BKV 30 XF and is said to have more than 17% better flow (flow spiral, 8 x 2 mm, 280°C). Compared to “regular” Durethan BKV 30, flow is 62% higher. Lanxess says the improved processing performance comes with virtually no loss of mechanical properties. “We think it has huge potential for use in applications such as light but extremely strong mounts and brackets in cars,” says Stefan Theiler, an expert in the development of polyamide compounds. Also new are three Durethan B compounds rein-
forced with a 30% mix of glass fibres and glass microbeads that exhibit high flow and low susceptibility to warpage. Theiler highlights Durethan BG 30 X H30 XF. This contains a heat stabilisation additive package with very low copper and halide content and is custom- ised for natural-coloured and lightly coloured applica- tions in electrical engineering and electronics, such as plugs, plug connectors and fuse boxes. Another version is aimed at components that are coloured black and are subjected to higher heat loads. Several other polyamide suppliers, as well as independent compounders, have also introduced what are commonly refered to as “electrically neutral”
Pushing performance at Porsche
Switching from aluminium to PA6 has cut the weight of the engine oil pan on the Porsche 911 Carrera by more than 2kg. Upper and lower parts of the pan are moulded in Durethan BKV 30 H2.0 by Lanxess, with the upper part screw- connected to a pipeline carrier also made in PA 6. Aside from the weight saving, the opportunity to integrate more functions in the plastic parts has reduced the component count from 14 to eight and assembly steps from eight to two. “The component fully satisfies the specific requirements for functional integration, lightweight construction and cost-effective production that the new generation of engines has to meet,” says Jorge Soares, Project Manager at Polytec Plastics, which developed and manufactures the oil pan. ❙
www.lanxess.com
32 INJECTION WORLD | November/December 2016
www.injectionworld.com
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